One-dimensional Ag-CoNi nanocomposites modified with amorphous Sn(OH)/SnO shells for broadband microwave absorption.

High-performance microwave absorption absorbers play important roles in the fields of radar stealth, electromagnetic protection, and antenna technology. In this work, high aspect-ratio Ag nanowires were decorated with magnetic CoNi nanoparticles via a PVP-induced solvothermal method, and then amorphous Sn(OH)/SnO shells were introduced through an in-situ oxidative hydrolysis method, successfully preparing Ag-CoNi@Sn(OH)/SnO composites. The morphology and ingredient of composites were ascertained by SEM, TEM, XRD, EDX, and XPS. As Ag-CoNi nanocomposites are coated by Sn(OH)/SnO shells, the minimum reflection loss value is decreased from -31.7 dB (10.1 GHz) to -37.8 dB (6.4 GHz), and the maximum effective absorption bandwidth is extended from 3.9 GHz (10.3-14.2 GHz) to 5.8 GHz (10.7-16.5 GHz). Analyses of electromagnetic parameters reveal the possible mechanisms, involving surface plasma resonance, conductive loss, interfacial polarization, dipole polarization, exchange resonance, eddy current effect, multiple reflection and scattering. Thus, Ag nanowires modified with CoNi nanoparticles and amorphous Sn(OH)/SnO shells can effectively balance the impedance matching and attenuation capability. It is a new strategy to achieve broadband microwave absorbers.